|
|
INC Congress Program |
| THURSDAY, 28 MAY 2009 |
| 9:00am-5:00pm |
Registration at the Fairmont Hotel |
| |
|
| FRIDAY, 29 MAY 2009 |
| 8:00am |
Bus departs from Fairmont Hotel for Golf Tournament at Monte Carlo Golf Club. Golf Tournament, Sponsored by Setton Pistachios.
Golf Lunch, Sponsored by Harris Woolf Almonds. |
| 9:00am-5:00pm |
Registration at the Fairmont Hotel. |
| 9:00am-2:30pm |
Scientific and Government Affairs Committee Meeting, at the Fairmont Hotel. |
| 9:30am |
Bus departs from Fairmont Hotel for Tennis Tournament at Monte Carlo Country Club. |
| 10:00am |
Lessons in Casino Games at the Monte Carlo Casino. |
| 3:00pm-5:00pm |
Dried Fruit Meeting. |
| 4:00pm-6:30pm |
Nut Nutrition Poker Tournament at Sun Casino, Fairmont Hotel. Finals from 9.30pm till 2.00am. |
| 5:00pm-6:00pm |
Speakers’ Meeting at the Fairmont Hotel. |
| 6:45pm |
Bus departs from Monte Carlo Bay Hotel to “La Salle Empire”, Hotel de Paris. |
| 7:00pm-9:00pm |
Welcome Cocktail party at “La Salle Empire”, at Hotel de Paris.
Co-Sponsored by Ahcom and the Monaco Tourist and Convention Authority. |
|
|
| SATURDAY, 30 MAY 2009 |
| 9:00am |
Congress Officially opens at Fairmont Hotel.
Welcome: Giles Hacking & Adam Hacking, Congress Co-Chairmen, and Jack Mariani, INC Chairman. |
| 9:15am |
Welcome by the Secretary of State of Monaco, M. Jacques Boisson. |
| 9:30am |
HAZELNUTS Working Group, chaired by Dr. Maurizio Cortese, Ferrero Group. |
| 10:00am |
Speaker: Professor Joachim Schwass, IMD Family Business. |
| 10:45am |
Coffee break. Do not miss to visit the exhibitions area. |
| 11:15am |
WALNUTS Working Group, chaired by Gary Ford.
PECANS Working Group, chaired by Dick Walden. |
| 11:45am |
DRIED: FIGS/ APRICOTS/ PRUNES Working Group, chaired by Mark Mariani. |
| 12:15pm |
BRAZIL NUTS Working Group, chaired by David Rosenblatt.
PINE NUTS Working Group, chaired by Huo Jianguo. |
| 12:45pm |
Scientific Seminar "Round Table: Global Health, Safety in Food and Latest Regulatory Issues", chaired by Giuseppe Calcagni |
|
|
|
|
|
INC Scientific and Government Affairs Committee Members.
Dr. Ezzeddine Boutrif, Director of the Nutrition and Protection Division FAO.
Dr. Daniel Scharlau, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena. |
| 1:45pm |
Buffet Working Lunch, Sponsored by Rajkumar Impex Ltd. |
| 4:00pm-6:00pm |
Ambassadors Meeting, at the Fairmont Hotel. |
| 8:15pm |
Bus shuttle from Fairmont Hotel to “Le Deck”. |
| 8:30pm |
Casual Buffet Dinner at “Le Deck”. |
| 9:45am-2:30pm |
Spouses Tour: Monaco old town (lunch included). |
|
|
| SUNDAY, 31 MAY 2009 |
| 9:00am |
INC General Assembly at the Fairmont Hotel:
1. Call to order and acceptance of the agenda by the Chairman
2. Report of the Advisory Committee by past Presidents/Chairmen
3. Report of the activities of the INC Foundation by the Executive Director
4. Financial status report of the Council by the Treasurer
5. Approval of the 2008 accounts of the Council
6. Approval of the 2009 Budget of the Council
7. Dismissal, appointment or re-election of members of the Board of Directors
8. Endorsement of Ambassadors proposed by the Board of Directors
9. Report of the INC Ambassadors
10. Announcement of the 2011 Congress site
11. Other Business |
| 10:00am |
2010 Beijing-China, XXIX World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress Presentation by Huo Jianguo. |
| 10:15am |
ALMONDS Working Group, chaired by Doug Youngdahl. |
| 10:45am |
Coffee Break. Exhibition continues. |
| 11:15am |
PISTACHIOS Working Group, chaired by Asadollah Asgaroladi.
PEANUTS Working Group, chaired by Chris Nubern. |
| 11:45pm |
Speaker: David Coulthard, F1 Race Driver. |
| 12:30pm |
CASHEWS Working Group, chaired by Ashok Krishen.
MACADAMIAS Working Group, chaired by Michael Waring. |
| 1:00pm |
DRIED: DATES Working Group, chaired by Mohsen Boujbel.
DRIED: RAISINS/ SULTANAS/ CURRANTS Working Group, chaired by Barry Kriebel. |
| 1:30pm |
Buffet Working Lunch, Sponsored by Sun-Maid Growers of California. |
| 6:45pm |
Bus shuttle from Fairmont Hotel to “Salle des Etoiles”. |
| 7:00pm |
Cocktail in the gardens of the Salle des Etoiles and des Salle des Palmiers. |
| 8:00pm |
Gala Dinner and Ball at the “Salle des Etoiles”. Sponsored by Noberasco S.P.A. Black tie/Lounge suit recommended. |
| 9:30pm-3:00pm |
Spouses Tour: Nice, the Capital of the French Riviera (lunch included). |
|
|
|
|
THE CRACKER MAGAZINE
|
|
April 2009 Issue
|
|
-
World News
California in serious drought; Pecan industry expands technical program with food
safety research; Macadamia symposium set for September, 2009 in South Africa;
California raw almonds must be pasteurized in North America says judge.
-
Peanut Recall Headlines ACFSQ Meeting
Dried fruit and tree nut industry who attended the American Council of Food Safety
and Quality annual meeting were warned that government regulators will respond
vigorously with increased inspections after recent peanut products recall.
-
Food Safety Survey Highlights
More than 93 percent of U.S. consumers have heard reports about food safety issues
and recalls and 25 percent say the recalls will change their buying behavior; charts
outline consumer response in national survey.
|
-
INC Congress in Monaco 29-31 May
World economics and how the dried fruit and nut industry is responding to difficult
times ahead; taking a look inside the intricacies of managing a family business;
and Formula 1 racing legend David Coulthard will headline the 28th annual INC
Congress Program 29 – 31 May in Monaco.
-
World Statistics
April 2009 Global Statistical Review and mid-way point on tree nuts and dried fruit
consumption rates.
-
450 Attend Western Pistachio
Association Meeting
450 pistachio growers and other industry associates review issues like expanding
federal marketing order, trade opportunities in India, California drought challenges,
pistachio crop forecasts and the latest pistachio nutrition news at annual meeting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Cracker Online
|
From January 2009, INC members and subscribers may read, download, store and print the magazine from the website at the Cracker section. This online version of The Cracker features all the articles, market reports and statistical data available in the print edition, along with a dropdown index to quickly access to the contents, zoom tools and website links to our advertisers.
From now on you can look up The Cracker anywhere, anytime!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Join us at the 2009 IFT FoodExpo
|
The INC will again be participating at the IFT FoodExpo, which will take place from 7 to 9 June, 2009, at Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, USA.
Attendees from more than 80 countries around the world will converge in Anaheim to hear about the latest food science and technology developments, learn about the newest products and trends and form new professional relationships.
To whom it may interest we have free passes at INC members’ disposal. Please contact us at +34 977 331 416 or e-mail inc@nutfruit.org.
We look forward to meet you in Anaheim and explore the ways in which we can support you and the nut and dried fruit industry.
|
|
|
|
|
Source: Institute for Integrative Nutrition
|
The INC Executive Committee met in NYC
|
The INC Executive Committee met on Saturday, March 7th, 2009, in New York City, to review the 5 year financial plan and strategic plan for priority actions, the 2008 year-end financial report and the budget for 2009.
The Committee also discussed project funding, and reviewed the performance of the sub-committees (Audit Committee, Membership and Ambassadors’ Committee, Editorial and Statistics Committee, Congress Committee and Scientific and Government Affairs Committee).
The meeting was closed at the end of the afternoon after a very constructive and successful working day. The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be held in Monaco within the frame of the INC Annual Congress.
When diet changes, everything changes
Located in Avery Fisher Hall at New York Lincoln Center, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (INN) was founded in 1992 as a nutrition school whose mission is to play a crucial role in improving health and happiness in America, and through that process, create a ripple effect that transforms the world.
The INN boasts to be the only school in the world teaching more than 100 dietary theories, from traditional to modern, Eastern to Western, popular to esoteric. Some of the theories they cover includes the Atkins diet, blood type diet, calorie restriction, high-carbohydrate diets, among others. Within dietary theories, we are glad to see nuts included as a key diet component in most of their dietary theories.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods
3rd Session - March 23-27 · Rotterdam (The Netherlands)
|
The INC participated at the 3rd Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF), March 23-27, 2009, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The INC, as Official Non-Government Observer, was represented by Mr. Pino Calcagni, Chairman of the INC Scientific and Government Affairs Committee, and Ms. Julie Adams, Vice-Chairman.
Among others, the CCCF discussed the Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Foods; Draft Maximum Levels for Total Aflatoxins in Brazil Nuts; Code of Practice for the Reduction of Acrylamide in Food; Code of Practice for the Reduction of Contamination of Food with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) from Smoking and Direct Drying Processes; Priority List of Contaminants and Naturally Occurring Toxicants Proposed for Evaluation by JECFA.
Codex MLs for Total Aflatoxins in Brazil Nuts
Over the past months, the INC has participated in the preparation of a Discussion Paper on Aflatoxin Contamination in Brazil Nuts. The paper was prepared by Brazil, with contributions from FAO, the Netherlands, UK, USA, the Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the EU (CIAA) and the INC. The paper focuses on production conditions and practices, pointing out the complexities of Brazil nut cultivation as well as its importance to the economic wellbeing of the Amazonian region. The paper was to form the basis of discussions during the CCCF.Unfortunately, the final paper was not available until shortly before the meeting, which did not allow sufficient time for submission of comments by Codex member governments.During the plenary meeting, the Codex secretariat pointed out the importance of ensuring the document, and its subsequent recommendations, were thoroughly reviewed and discussed. It was therefore agreed to make several modifications to the paper based on preliminary discussions; the full document will be circulated to member countries and included in the agenda for the 2010 CCCF meeting.
After a long discussion, the Codex Commission agreed that shelled Brazil nuts should be aligned with almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios, viz 10 ppb total aflatoxin for ready-to-eat products and 15 ppb for products to be reprocessed. Limits for Brazil nuts in shell remain unchanged. |
|
|
|
|
|
INC participates in the 3rd International Congress on Food and Nutrition · April 22-25, 2009 · Antalya (Turkey)
|
The INC is sponsoring and participating in the 3rd International Congress on Food and Nutrition, to be held in Antalya, Turkey, from 22 to 25 April 2009. This is the second time in the past three years that the INC participates in this congress aimed at highlighting the most important and emerging areas of food and nutrition sciences, as well as exploring relevant topics that will be the most interesting and useful for the future. Providing accurate and updated scientific information from the most recent R & D activities is also targeted. This event provides a forum for exchange of ideas and authoritative views by food scientists and technologists, nutritionists, and medical professionals, as well as business leaders and investors. The “EU Quality Low-Input Food Project Final Conference” will be held as an associate event and its program will run as an integral part of the congress.
Pino Calcagni, Chairman of the Scientific and Government Affairs Committee, will give a presentation within the Scientific Program under the title “Production, Market Trends and Regulations of tree nuts”, on Wednesday, 22 April.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4th International Macadamia Symposium
|
The 4th International Macadamia Symposium will take place from 6 to 9 September 2009 in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, and will be hosted by the Southern African Macadamia Growers’ Association (SAMAC), aiming to bring together the macadamia industry from around the globe to exchange information on both technical and marketing aspects of the macadamia business. The symposium will be held at Berg en Dal rest camp, which is situated on the Southern border of the Kruger National Park.
|
|
|
|
|
|
New FAO Food Price Database
|
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has launched a new online database that covers about 800 monthly domestic retail and/or wholesale price series of major foods consumed in 55 developing countries.
The “National Basic Food Prices Data and Analysis Tool” allows tracking commodities in a given country either in the local currency or in US dollars, and allows price comparison between domestic and international markets, between different markets in the same country, and between countries. With few exceptions, the price quotations are collected from national official sources.
The database has been developed as part of the FAO Initiative on Soaring Food Prices to assist in the monitoring of domestic food price trends in developing countries.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| New Scientific & Regulatory Issues on the INC website
Scientific Studies
|
|
|
|
FDA Guidance on Safe Production of Foods Containing Peanut-Derived Ingredients
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a new Guidance to the food industry called “Measures to Address the Risk for Contamination by Salmonella Species in Food Containing a Peanut-Derived Product as an Ingredient”, as response to the recent Salmonella outbreak. Peanut-derived products include peanuts, peanut butter, peanut paste, peanut meal, and peanut granules.
FDA recommends that manufacturers obtain their peanut-derived ingredients only from suppliers with production processes that have been proved to adequately reduce the presence of Salmonella.
If such validated process is not available, they shall ensure that their own manufacturing process would adequately reduce the presence of Salmonella.
In addition, the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) issued the guidance “Control of Salmonella in Low-Moisture Foods” on February 4, 2009, available at www.gmaonline.org.
FDA Guidance on Safe Production of Foods Containing Peanut-Derived Ingredients
Update: EU High Risk Products Legislation
Member States representatives of the European Union gave a favorable opinion to the draft Regulation on implementing Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 as regards the increased level of official controls on imports of high risk products, at the meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH) on March 27, 2009.
As set in the draft Regulation, the following nuts and dried fruits are subject to an increased level of official controls at the designated point of entry:
Feed and food (intended use) |
CN code |
Country of origin |
Hazard |
Frequency of physical and identity checks(%) |
Peanuts and derived products (feed and food) |
1202 10 90;
1202 20 00;
2008 11 |
Argentina |
Aflatoxins |
10 |
Peanuts and derived products (feed and food) |
1202 10 90;
1202 20 00;
2008 11 |
Brazil |
Aflatoxins |
50 |
Peanuts and derived products (feed and food), in particular peanut butter (food) |
1202 10;
1202 20 00;
2008 11 |
Ghana |
Aflatoxins |
50 |
Peanuts and derived products (feed and food) |
1202 10 90;
1202 20 00;
2008 11 |
India |
Aflatoxins |
10 |
Dried vine fruit (food) |
0806 20 |
Uzbekistan |
Ochratoxin A |
50 |
Peanuts and derived products (feed and food) |
1202 10 90;
1202 20 00;
2008 11 |
Vietnam |
Aflatoxins |
10 |
This last draft has introduced a derogation to authorize, under strict conditions, physical controls to be performed in the EU Member States of destination.
Consignments sampled for physical checks should not be detained until the results of official physical checks are issued. Once the samples would have been taken, the consignments will be authorized to be further transported under official control and could not be customs-cleared at destination as long as the results of the physical checks will not have been issued.
Under strict conditions, physical checks could be performed at the premises of a business operator located in the country of first entry into the EU, instead of being carried out in the official point of entry designated by the Member States.
FRUCOM, the European Federation of Importers of Dried Fruits and Nuts, has followed closely the development of this rule since 2006, raising its concerns to DG SANCO in order to ensure that the importer’s point of view would be heard and taken into account.
The regulation will now be subject to scrutiny by the European Parliament, and it's expected to enter into force on January 1st, 2010.
|
|
|
|
2008 EU RASFF Notifications
FRUCOM has recently released its Annual Report on EU RASFF Notifications (Rapid Alert System for Food & Feed) for Dried Fruits & Edible Nuts. The report provides an overview of the total number and specific characteristics of RASFF notifications on almonds, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, pine nuts, pistachios, peanuts, dried apricots, dried figs, fig paste, dates, dried vine fruits, and related products in 2008.
Breakdowns for the main notified products within each category are displayed, together with relevant information on the countries of origin and the main reasons for notifying.
The RASFF is a rapid alert system which allows the European Commission, the EU-27 Members States plus Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland, and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), to exchange information on measures taken to ensure food safety.
FRUCOM’s report states a total of 726 notifications of edible nuts, of which 320 concerned peanuts (44%), and 236 concerned pistachios (33%). For dried fruits they have counted 155 notifications, of which 113 concerned figs (73%).
| 2008 RAS Notifications for Edible Nuts: |
Reasons for notifying edible nuts; nº of notifications: |
|
|
|
TYPE OF NOTIFICATION |
EDIBLE NUTS |
TOTAL NOTIFICATIONS |
|
ALERT |
INFORMATION |
BORDER REJECTION |
PEANUTS |
312 |
|
5 |
15 |
292 |
PISTACHIOS |
219 |
|
12 |
10 |
197 |
HAZELNUTS |
63 |
|
3 |
6 |
54 |
ALMONDS |
52 |
|
2 |
3 |
47 |
PROCESSED PISTACHIOS |
15 |
|
0 |
1 |
14 |
MIXTURES |
11 |
|
0 |
2 |
9 |
PEANUT PASTE |
10 |
|
1 |
2 |
7 |
PINE NUTS |
9 |
|
0 |
0 |
9 |
PROCESSED PEANUTS |
8 |
|
0 |
2 |
6 |
APRICOT KERNELS |
6 |
|
2 |
0 |
4 |
WALNUTS |
6 |
|
0 |
2 |
4 |
BRAZIL NUTS |
3 |
|
1 |
0 |
2 |
HAZELNUT MEAL |
2 |
|
0 |
0 |
2 |
PROCESSED HAZELNUTS |
2 |
|
1 |
1 |
0 |
PISTACHIO PASTE |
2 |
|
2 |
0 |
0 |
CASHEW FLOUR |
1 |
|
0 |
1 |
0 |
PROCESSED CHESTNUTS |
1 |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
COCONUTS |
1 |
|
0 |
1 |
0 |
PECANS |
1 |
|
0 |
0 |
1 |
OTHERS |
2 |
|
1 |
0 |
1 |
TOTAL |
726 |
|
31 |
46 |
649 |
|
|
| Source: FRUCOM database |
|
| |
|
| 2008 RAS Notifications for Dried Fruits: |
Reasons for notifying dried fruits; nº of notifications: |
|
|
|
TYPE OF NOTIFICATION |
DRIED FRUITS |
TOTAL NOTIFICATIONS |
|
ALERT |
INFORMATION |
BORDER REJECTION |
FIGS |
102 |
|
2 |
7 |
93 |
APRICOTS |
20 |
|
1 |
1 |
8 |
FIG PASTE |
11 |
|
0 |
6 |
5 |
DATES |
7 |
|
0 |
7 |
0 |
RAISINS |
7 |
|
1 |
2 |
4 |
APPLES |
2 |
|
0 |
1 |
1 |
PRUNES |
2 |
|
0 |
2 |
0 |
BANANAS |
1 |
|
0 |
0 |
1 |
MIXTURES |
1 |
|
0 |
1 |
0 |
GOJI BERRIES |
1 |
|
0 |
1 |
0 |
PINEAPPLES |
1 |
|
0 |
1 |
0 |
TOTAL |
155 |
|
4 |
39 |
112 |
|
|
| Source: FRUCOM database |
|
RASFF Notifications
EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed
Weeks 9-12, 2009
ALERT NOTIFICATIONS
Country of Origin |
Reason for Notifying |
Total Notifications |
| Greece |
Aflatoxins in dried figs |
1 |
| Iran |
Aflatoxins in shelled pistachio nuts from Iran, via Germany |
1 |
| Italy |
Undeclared milk ingredient in choco-nut paste |
1 |
| Turkey |
Aflatoxins in cocktail nuts |
1 |
| USA |
Aflatoxins in roasted and salted pistachio nuts from Germany, with raw material from USA |
1 |
Suspicion of Salmonella in nut bars |
1 |
Alert Notifications are released when a food or feed presenting a serious risk is on the market and when immediate action is required.
INFORMATION NOTIFICATIONS
Country of Origin |
Reason for Notifying |
Total Notifications |
Ghana |
Aflatoxins in peanut butter |
1 |
India |
Aflatoxins in peanuts for bird feed |
1 |
Turkey |
Aflatoxins in pistachios |
1 |
USA |
Almond kernels infested with insects |
1 |
Information Notifications concern a food or feed for which a risk has been identified, but for which the other member states do not have to take immediate action, because the product has not yet reached their market.
BORDER REJECTIONS
Country of Origin |
Reason for Notifying |
Total Notifications |
Argentina |
Aflatoxins in peanuts |
4 |
Brazil |
Aflatoxins in peanuts |
2 |
China |
Aflatoxins in peanuts |
5 |
Egypt |
Aflatoxins in peanuts |
2 |
India |
Aflatoxins in peanuts |
12 |
Iran |
Aflatoxins in almond brittle |
1 |
Aflatoxins in dried apricots |
1 |
Aflatoxins in pistachios |
4 |
Nigeria |
Aflatoxins in peanuts |
1 |
Paraguay |
Aflatoxins in peanuts |
3 |
Turkey |
Aflatoxins in dried figs |
2 |
Aflatoxins in fig paste |
3 |
Aflatoxins in hazelnuts |
4 |
Aflatoxins in nut mixture |
1 |
Aflatoxins in pistachios |
3 |
Salmonella in dried sultana raisins |
1 |
USA |
Aflatoxins in almonds |
1 |
Aflatoxins in peanuts |
1 |
Aflatoxins in pistachios |
1 |
Border Rejections concern food and feed consignments that have been tested and rejected at the external borders of the EU and the European Economic Area when a health risk was found. The notifications are transmitted to all EEA border posts in order to reinforce controls and to ensure that the rejected product does not re-enter the Community through another border post.
http://ec.europa.eu
|
|
|
|
Aflatoxins and OTA in Turkish Hazelnuts, Pistachios and Dried Fruit: FVO Report
The EC Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) has recently released the outcomes of a mission carried out in Turkey, from 14 to 23 October 2008, in order to evaluate the facilities and measures in place to control mycotoxin contamination in hazelnuts, pistachios and dried fruit intended for export to the European Union.
The FVO mission team observed that Turkish Competent Authorities (CAs), together with the nut and dried fruit sector, have made big efforts to control mycotoxin contamination: there’s a clear distribution of responsibilities and adequate communication between the CAs; staff are frequently trained and well informed; and research has been undertaken on reduction of mycotoxins in hazelnuts and dried fruits since the last mission. Furthermore, most of the recommendations from the previous mission report have been addressed. However, the report provides recommendations to the CAs to address some shortcomings, mainly found in drying and storage at farm level.
Imports of Hazelnuts, Pistachios, Dried Figs and Dried Grapes into the EU:
TURKEY |
Imports into the EU (MT) |
Number of RASFF Notifications |
2006 |
2007 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
In-Shell Hazelnuts
(CN code 0802 21 00)
Shelled hazelnuts
(CN code 0802 22 00) |
81.827
(DE, IT, EL) |
79.367
(DE. IT, DK) |
79 |
104 |
59 |
Pistachios
(CN code 0802 50 00) |
658
(IT, DE, UK) |
873
(IT, DE, UK) |
23 |
33 |
28 |
Dried Figs
(CN code 0804 20 90) |
37.968
(FR, DE, IT) |
29.011
(DE, FR, UK) |
54 |
61 |
111 (*) |
Dried Grapes
(CN code 0806 20 00) |
198.541
(UK, DE, NL) |
205.142
(UK, NL, DE) |
1 |
2 |
2 |
(*): including fig paste. Source: Eurostat and EC RASFF |
www.nutfruit.org
California Almond Growers; Continuance Referendum
The USDA has announced a referendum to be conducted among California almonds growers to determine whether they favor continuance of the Federal Marketing Order No. 981 regulating the handling of almonds grown in California. The referendum will be conducted from April 6 through April 24, 2009. To vote in this referendum, growers must have produced California almonds during the period August 1, 2007 through July 31, 2008.
For the order to continue, at least two-thirds of those voting in the referendum or at least two-thirds of the volume of almonds represented must vote in favor.
Almonds Grown in California; Continuance Referendum, Proposed Rules Federal Register Vol. 74, No. 33 Friday, February 20, 2009.
|
|
|
Successful Trial of Immunotherapy for Peanut Allergy
Researchers from Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, have provided some evidence that it is possible to use peanut oral immunotherapy (OIT) to increase tolerance to peanut protein. According to the study published in the journal Allergy, February 2009 issue, Dr. Andy Clark and his team exposed four peanut-allergic boys to peanut protein (from 5 to 800 mg of protein per day with 2-weekly dose increases). After 6 further weeks of treatment, children were found to tolerate at least 10 whole peanuts, about 2,38 g protein (more than is likely to be ingested by accident), in postintervention challenges, showing a substantial increase in dose threshold after OIT in all subjects.
|
|
|
|
|
E-mail: inc@nutfruit.org